Aston Villa play Fulham in the Premier League this afternoon.
Aston Villa are now on a losing streak, having won only twice in 2024 and failing to advance in the FA Cup, but Unai Emery is convinced his team can turn things around against Fulham today.
They may consider themselves unlucky to lose to Manchester United last weekend, with Scott McTominay scoring in the dying few minutes, but a victory over the Cottagers is critical if the team hopes to qualify for Champions League football next season.
Emery/Aston Villa
The Spaniard may need to mix things up slightly due to the club’s mini-injury issue. Boubacar Kamara is out for the remainder of the season after suffering an ACL injury, while defender Diego Carlos will be sidelined for the next four weeks owing to a hamstring ailment.
Emery could make up to three changes to his starting lineup against Marco Silva’s team today.
1. Emiliano MartÃnez, a goalkeeper for Konsa-Martinez-Kamara-Aston-Villa, will continue to play in the Premier League, having only missed one match this season and keeping six clean sheets in 23 appearances.
The Argentine has conceded 31 goals, but keeping a clean sheet against Fulham might help Villa secure a much-needed win.
2.Matty Cash is the second running back.
Matty-Cash-Bruno-Fernandes
Cash will keep his spot in the starting lineup, despite a difficult encounter against United last Saturday.
Not only did he lose possession 17 times during the game, winning only three of his 12 contested duels, but he was also responsible for the away team’s winner by failing to get ahead of McTominay before the Scot scored.
The only alternative right-back Emery may call on is Callum Chambers, who has only played twice this season, thus Cash will start against Fulham.
3 CB: Pau Torres
Aston Villa’s Pau Torres and Hibernian’s Josh Campbell
The £31.5 million signing from Villarreal will return to the squad for the first time this year after missing the previous seven games due to injury, and his return may be a significant boost, especially with Carlos and Ezri Konsa out injured.
Torres, described as a “extraordinary talent” by former Villarreal player Javi Calleja, has been a rock at the back for Villa since his arrival last summer, and his return to the starting lineup should correlate with an improved defensive performance today.
4. CB – Clement Lenglet
clement-lenglet-aston-villa-premier-league
With three senior defenders out for the foreseeable future, Emery has no choice but to start Lenglet this afternoon.
The on-loan defender has started the club’s previous seven Premier League matches, but Villa have only won two of those and will want to improve against Fulham.
5 LB: Lucas Digne
Lucas-digne-aston-villa
The French defender will return from injury and replace Alex Moreno on the left side of the defence today.
He played three minutes versus United over the weekend, and his comeback might be beneficial to the Midlands club, especially now that a few more players are out injured.
6.Douglas Luiz is a central midfielder for Aston Villa in the Premier League.
Emery will most likely use a 4-2-3-1 against the Cottagers, which means Luiz will play in the heart of the midfield, where he has been excellent this season.
In 35 matches in 2023/24, the Brazilian scored eight goals and assisted seven others, and his attacking presence has made him a legitimate goal danger from the middle of the pitch.
He equalised against Erik ten Hag’s team last week, and Emery will be hoping the 25-year-old can strike again today.
7 CM: John McGinn
John McGinn—Aston Villa
McGinn will play with Luiz in the base of the midfield, and this partnership has the potential to provide both an attacking threat and defensive stability to the starting lineup.
The captain has started all but two games this season, and, like Luiz, he enjoys getting forward as much as can, having scored eight goals so far.
He scored against Fulham in a 3-1 victory in November, and another goal against them today would be gratefully received.
8. Leon Bailey (RW)
leon-bailey-aston-villa-premier-league
Bailey’s rebirth this season has undoubtedly been one of the most pleasing elements, and he now appears to be an important player for Emery.
The former Bayer Leverkusen player has made an outstanding 19 goal contributions – ten goals and nine assists – in only 33 appearances for the club, forcing Emery to redeploy Moussa Diaby elsewhere.
The winger had an assist the previous time the teams played a few months ago, and he is expected to provide another goal tomorrow.
9 AM – Moussa Diaby
Moussa Diaby
The Frenchman may not have reached the heights he did at Leverkusen, but with time, the winger will develop into a top-class signing.
Indeed, the 24-year-old has only six goals in 34 games, but he has frequently moved positions, playing as a winger, centre striker, or number ten.
With Bailey flourishing on the right, Diaby will be released tomorrow from the latter position.
10 LW: Jacob Ramsey
Jacob-Ramsey-Aston-Villa
Ramsey’s season has been hampered by injury difficulties, resulting in only 18 appearances in all competitions, with only two goals.
The Englishman began versus United, but the boss will be hoping for a more productive showing after taking five shots and failing to score.
Ollie Watkins (11 ST)
ollie-watkins-aston-villa
Villa have no reason to fear anyone with Watkins in their starting lineup, especially given his goal scoring record this season.
16 goals and 12 assists in just 34 games is an outstanding performance, and there is little question he will surpass the 20-goal mark this season.
The striker has three goals and an assist versus Fulham in his previous ten games, losing only twice to the London club, and he will be aiming to continue his good record against them tonight.
Aston Villa’s expected XI vs Fulham (4-2-3-1) Martinez as goalkeeper; Cash as RB, Torres as CB, Lenglet as CB, Digne as LB; Luiz as CM, McGinn as CM; Bailey as RW, Diaby as AM, Ramsey as LW; Watkins as ST.
